Electric igniter for explosive-engines.



(No Model.)

H. A. GRAY.

Patented Sept. 23, |902.A

ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

(Application led Oct. 1, 1901.)

2 sheets-sheet L I RW /NVENTo/e.

By f/z'wara! @rage A TTORNE Y.

No. 709,598. Patented sallaz-391902. H. A. GRAY. ELECTRIC IGNITER FOREXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

` (Application led Oct. 1, 1901.)

IN VEN TOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

I-IOVARD A. GRAY, OF PLAINFIELD, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

,SPEOIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,598, datedSeptember 23, 1902.

Application led October 1,1901. Serial No. 77,210. (No model.)

T all whom it 771,617/ concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD A. GRAY, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Plainfield, county of Will and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Igniters forExplosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification and whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming apart thereof.

My invention relates to explosive-engines, and has particular referenceto electrical igniting devices therefor.

The object of (the invention is to provide a simple and effectiveigniter and one controlled by the governor through the medium of thevalve mechanism ofthe engine-as, for instance, the rod for operating theexhaustvalve in an engine of the four-cycle type or the rod or otherdevice governing the feed- Valve in an engine of the two-cycle type.

The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement ofparts more fully bereinafterset forth and which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which-.-

Figure lis a side elevation of an explosiveengine,showing my inventionapplied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan of a part of the engine withparticular reference to the valve-rod and connections and theelectrode-shaft and clutch for the same, the valve-casing being shown insection. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is asection, on an enlarged scale, on the line L1 4 of Fig. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a section, also on an enlarged scale,on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, illustrating the electrodes, a modificationof the same being shown in dotted lines. Figs. 6 and 7 relate to detailsof the governor. Fig. 8 is a face view of one of the members of theclutch shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 9 shows a square-faced clutch usedwith a re- Versing-enginewhenthe modified form of electrodes isemployed, and Fig. 10 is ar detailof the reciprocating or slidingelectrode illustrated in Fig. 5.

I have shown in Fig. 1 thebed-plate 15, cylinder 1U, fly-wheels 17, andcrank-shaft 18 of an explosive-engine of ordinary construction. Thepiston and connecting-rod are not seen.

Secured to the cylinder 16, near the inner end thereof, is avalve-casing 19 of common construction, the chamber 20 of which opensinto the interior of the said cylinder, and 21 and 22 designate theexhaust and inlet ports, which are closed by the inwardly-opening valves23 and 24, respectively, the latter being held to its seat by a spring24a. As shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the ports 2l and 22communicate with the chamber 20 for feeding the explosive mixtureentering by the pipe 14 to the chamber 14@ and exhausting the `productsof combustion from the chamber 13 to the pipe 13. The exhaust-valve 23is provided with a stem 25, which extends through the wall of the casing19 and is held to its seat by an expansion-spring 26 reacting betweenthe wall of the casing and a nut 27, screwed on the said stem.

Reciprocating in a guide 28, secured to the bed-plate 15, is a rod 29,having at the end thereof adjacent to the crank-shaft 18 afriction-roller 30a, and the opposite end of the said rod pushes againstthe end of the valvestem when moved by a cam 30, fixed on a sha-ft 31,jonrnaled in the bearing 32 on the bed-plate 15. This shaft 31 has keyedto it a gear 33, which meshes with a pinion 34, keyed to the crank-shaft1S. The ratio of the gear 33 ro the pinion 3l is such that the formermakes one revolution to two of the latter, the engine now beingdescribed being of the fourcycle type. When the cam is turned away fromthe reciprocating rod 29, the latter is moved to its original positionby the expansion of the spring 26 in closing the exhaustvalve 23.

Secured in but insulated from the wall of the chamber 2O of thevalve-casing 19 by a nut 35a is a hollow plug 35, closed by a cap 36. Inthe open end of the plug 35, extending into the chamber 20, is seated asliding or reciprocating pin 37, serving as one of the electrodes of theigniter, and interposed between the head of this pin and the cap 36 isan expansion-spring 3S, which holds the electrode in the path of the camor electrode 39, also located in the chamber 20. The spring 3S issurrounded by an insulating-sleeve 40 to avoid sparking and theconsequent wasting of the battery, which would occur on the expansionand contraction of the spring if no means were provided to preventcontact therewith with the walls of the plug 35. The pin 37 has a flatside, and also the seat therefor, as shown in Fig. 10, to prevent theturning of the pin, and the contact-point thereof is beveled, as at 41.Theelectrode 39 is in the shape of a cam having an angular face 42,thereby rendering the rotation of the same possible only in onedirection, the flat faces of the two electrodes meeting when the motionof the cam 39 is reversed. One wire of an electric circuit,conventionally shown at A, is grounded in the cylinder 16 and the otherled to a binding-post 36 on the cap 36 of the plug 35. The electrode 39is fixed to a shaft which passes through the casing 19, said shaftconsisting of two parts or sections 43 and 44. The end of this shaft isjournaled in a bearing 45, supported from the bed-plate 15, and providedwith a'beveled gear46,which meshes with and is driven bya beveled gear47, keyed to the shaft 31, and the two sections are coupled by means ofa ratchet-clutch, one member, as 48, of which is fast on the end of theshaft-section 44, while the other, 49, is carried by the shaft-section43. The member 49 of the clutch is capable of a sliding movement on theshaft-section 43, but is held against turning thereon by reason of thelattened side of the said shaft, as illustrated in Fig. 8, and a spring50, encircling the shaft and reacting against` a collar 503, serves tohold the said movable member in engagement with the member 48. Theclutch member 49 is also provided with a pin 51, which is engaged byacam or extension 53 of an arm 52, secured to the valve-rod 29, the saidextension being concentric with the clutch and its end beveled orinclined, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the beveled portion terminating in aflat seat 54.

The sparking of the electrodes 37 and 39 may be controlled by means ofany suitable governor capable of coaction with the valverod 29. I haveshowna governor of ordinary construction, consisting of the bell-cranklevers 55, pivoted to the hub of one of the flywheels 17 and providedwith the usual balls 56. Splined on the shaft 18, so as to be capable oflongitudinal movement, is a conical sleeve 57, provided with a collar58, having an annular recess 59, in which the short arms of the levers55 play. The centrifugal force acting on the governor-balls 56 isresisted by a spring 60, connecting the said balls, and the tension ofsaid spring is adjusted by means of a screw-bolt 61 and nut 62. Pivotedto the bed-plate 15 of the engine is a lever 63, the beveled end 63 ofwhich bears against the conical sleeve 57 of the governor, and the otherlies adjacent to an arm 64 of the valverod 29.

From the foregoing it will be understood that at every revolution of thecam 30 the valve-rod 29 is moved forward, opening the exhaust-valve 23,and at the same time the cam extension 53 of the arm 52, carried by thevalve-rod 29, strikes the pin 51 of the clutch member 49 and turns theshaft-section 43 in advance of the section 44. As soon, however, as thecam is withdrawn from engagement with the rod 29 the said rod isreturned to its normal position, releasing the clutch member 49, whichis immediately thrown by the spring 50into engagement with the member48, and then at the proper moment the electrode 39 is brought intocontact with the electrode 37, and upon separation therefrom a spark isgenerated which ignites the charge within the cylinder. If the engineexceeds a certain speed, the governorballs 56 are thrown outwardly,thereby sliding, through the medium of levers 55, the conical sleeve 57on the crank-shaft 18, and the lever 63 is moved on its pivot into thepath of the end of the arm 64 of the rod 29, its free end engaging anotch 65 in the end of the said arm, thereby holding the exhaust-valve23 open so long as the end of the lever remains in engagement with thearm 64 of the valve-rod. Of course while the rod 29 is in its advancedposition and the valve 23 held open the clutch member 49 will be heldseparated from the clutch member 48 by the cam extension 53 of the arm52,as heretofore described. The arm 52 not only serves to separate theclutch members, but also by reason of the beveled extension to turn theshaft-section 43 until the pin 5l rests in the squared seat 54, therebyholding the electrode 39 in such position that it is out of contact withthe electrode 37 when the shaft-section 43 is stationary. As soon as thespeed of the engine is reduced to normal the lever 63 is released by thegovernor-sleeve and drawn out of engagement with the arm 64 of the rod29 by a spring 66, one end of which is anchored to the bed-plate and theother to the lever. If the engine be reversed, as soon as the squaredface of the rotating electrode 39 comes into contact with the pin 37 theclutch will-permit the section 44 of the shaft to turn, while the othersection will remain stationary, thereby avoiding injury to theelectrodes.

It will be obvious that the invention herein described may with slightmodification be' adapted-to an engine of the two-cycle as well as anyother type-as, for example, by placing the arm 52, carried by thevalve-rod 29 for opening the exhaust-valve, on a rod or other device foractuating the feed-valve.

If the igniter is employed with a reversible engine, the electrode 37may be provided with a tapering point and a double-faced cam employed,as shown by dotted lines in Fig.,5, so as to permit of the sparking ofthe electrodes when running in either direction. Under this latterconstruction instead of the ratchetclutch a straight-jaw or lap-jointclutch, such as is shown in Fig. 9, might be employed.

Various modifications may be made in the IIO foams construction oftheinvention, and I do not limit myself to details so long as the spiritthereof is not departed from.

I claim as my inventionl. Inv an explosive-engine, in combination, acylinder, a pair of intermittently-contacting ingiting-electrodes one ofwhich is rotatable, means for rotating said electrode, acharge-controlling valve, means for actuating the valve, a governor forinterrupting the action of the valve, and an adjunct of thevalve-actuating means engaging the electrode-rotating means to hold therotatable electrode against movement.

2. In an explosive-engine, in combination, a cylinder,intermittently-contacting electrodes one of which is rotatable, meansfor rotating said electrode, a clutch-controlling connection between therotatable electrode and the rotating means, a reciprocating rod, and adetent carried by the rod and separating the clutch to prevent rotationof the electrode.

3. In an explosive-engine, in combination, a cylinder, a valve therefor,a rod controlling the valve, means for moving` the rod, a pair ofelectrodes one of which is rotatable, a shaft to which the rotatableelectrode is iixed, and a connection between such shaft and thevalve-controlling rod for holding the rotatable electrode againstmovement.

p 4. In an explosive-engine, in combination, a cylinder, a valvetherefor, a rod controlling` the valve, means for moving the rod, a pairof electrodes, a rotating shaft to which one of 'the electrodes isfixed, a clutch for the shaft, an arm carried by the rod and forseparating the clutch to throw the electrodes out of action, a governor,and a lever operated by the governor for holding the rod againstmovement.

5. In an explosive-engine, in combination,

a cylin der, an exhanst-valve,a rod controlling the valve, means formoving the rod, a pair of electrodes one of which is rotatable, a shaftto which the rotatable electrode is fixed, and an arm carried by thevalve-rod for holding the rotatable electrode against movement.

(l. In an explosive-engine, in combination, a cylinder, a valvetherefor, a rod controlling the Valve, a cam actuating the rod, areciprocating electrode, a second electrode, a rotating shaft comprisingtwo sections to one of `which the second electrode is tixed,a clutchconnecting the two shaft-sections, a pin projecting from one of theclutch members, and an arm secured to the valve-rod and having a beveledextension for engaging the pin to uncouplel and also turn theshaft-section to which the second 'electrode is Iixed.

7. In an explosive-engine, in combination, a cylinder, a valve therefor,a rod for opening the valve, means for moving the rod, a pair ofelectrodes one of which is rotatable, a shaft to which the rotatableelectrode is fixed,means controlled by the valve-rod for holding therotatable electrode against movement, a governor, and connection betweenthe governor and the valve-rod.

8. In an explosive-engine, in combination, a cylinder, a valve therefor,a rod for opening the valve, a cam engaging the rod, a pair ofelectrodes one of which is rotatable, a shaft to which the rotatableelectrode is hxed, an arm carried bythe valve-rod for holding therotatable electrode against movement, a governor, and connection betweenthe governor and the rod.

i). In an explosive-engine, in combination, a cylinder, a valvetherefor, arod controlling the valve, means for moving the rod, a pairof electrodes, a shaft comprising two sections to one of which one ofthe electrodes is fixed, a clutch coupling the two sections, an armcarried by the valve-rod and nncoupling the clutch to throw theelectrodes out of action, and a spring for throwing the clutch intoengagement when released by the arm..

l0. In an explosive-engine, in combination, a cylinder, a valvetherefor, a cam driven by the engine and moving the rod, a movableelectrode, a second electrode, a shaft comprising two sections to one ofwhich the second electrode is fixed, a clutch for coupling the twoshaft-sections and one of themexnbers of which is slidably mounted uponthe shaft, a pin projecting from such clutch member, an arm secured tothe valve-rod and having a beveled extension for engaging the pin touncouple the clutch and also turn the shaft-section to` which theelectrode is fixed, a spring for coupling the clutch when the arm iswithdrawn from the pin, a governor, and a pivoted lever actuated by thegovernor and for engaging the valve-rod when advanced by the cam.

11. In an explosive-engin e, in combination, a cylinder,intermittentlycontacting electrodes one of which is rotatable, means forrotating said electrode, a clutch controlling connection between therotatable electrode and the rotating means, and means timed to actintermediate of contacts between the electrodes for separating theclutch members to prevent movement of the rotatable electrode.

l2. In an explosive-engine, in combination, a pair of electrodes one ofwhich is moved intermittently into contact with the other, a shaft towhich the moving electrode isfxed, a valve, a rod controlling the valve,a pin rotatable with the electrode-shaft, and a cam carried by theValve-controlling rod and for engaging the pin to throw the movingelectrode out of action.

13. In an igniting device for explosive-engines, in combination, a pairof electrodes, a shaft comprising two sections and to one of which oneof the electrodes is secured, a clutch for coupling the two sections, aspring for holding the clutch members in engagement, a valve, means foroperating the valve, and means carried by the valve-operating means forseparating the clutch members.

IOO

IIO

14. In an igniting device for explosive-engines, in combination, a pairof electrodes, a shaft; comprising two sections and to one of which oneof the electrodes is secured, a clutch for coupling the two sections, aspring for holding the clutch members in engagement, a valve, means foroperating Lhe valve, means carried by the valve-operating means forseparating the clutch members, a governor, and means controlled by thegovernor xo for' holding bhe valve-operating means against; movement.

HOWARD A. GRAY. Witnesses:

WM. G. SToPP, F. F. HoAG.

